Permission granted for electric arc furnace at Scunthorpe Steelworks
It was granted at a council planning meeting
Last updated 30th Apr 2024
A decision has been made on British Steel’s proposal for an electric arc furnace (EAF) at its Scunthorpe steelworks.
Planning permission has been granted by councillors. The vote was tied, four-apiece, leaving chair Cllr Nigel Sherwood’s casting vote to decide. He saw no planning grounds to refuse it.
The EAF could be up and running as early as December 2025. The blast furnaces will continue running until the EAF is fully operational.
A North Lincolnshire Council special planning meeting was held today to decide on the EAF planning application. British Steel plans £1.25bn investment to become more green and sustainable, replacing its two Scunthorpe coke blast furnaces, with EAFs.
One, in Teesside, had already gained planning permission earlier this year. Unions have previously warned of four-figure job losses at Scunthorpe if the plan proceeded. The steelworks currently employ more than 3,200 people.
An EAF re-uses scrap steel to create new material. It reduces the demand for raw materials. The future closure of the blast furnaces in Scunthorpe, though, will result in the UK losing the ability to make virgin steel.
Following the meeting, Cllr Rob Waltham, leader of North Lincolnshire Council, said:
"The council’s planning committee has approved the application for British Steel to build and electric arc furnace on its site in Scunthorpe. The application met local and national planning policies.
“The council, along with local MPs, will continue to work with the Government to protect jobs at the steelworks.
“Work to attract green jobs to the 300-acres of surplus land at the steelworks continues. Master planning is underway to attract high-paid and high-skilled jobs to the area – using new technologies to create green industry.
“There is an opportunity to create something new, attracting innovative technology companies here to Scunthorpe on an underdeveloped site of industrial heritage.
“At the same time as working on this plan we continue to do all we can to protect jobs on the Scunthorpe site.”